Liquid mixture separators

Abstract

A liquid mixture separator utilizes particles which attracts one liquid of a mixture and does not attract a second liquid of the mixture. The mixture is introduced into a separator wherein a first liquid is attracted to the particles and the second liquid of the mixture is not attracted. The separated first liquid is passed outwardly via a filter which retains the particles, and the separated second liquid is drained from the separator.

The inventor claims:  
     
         1 . A liquid mixture separator comprising: 
 a first chamber for containing a mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid,    a second chamber adjacent to said first chamber and in liquid communication therewith via a screen wall between the first and second chambers,    means to introduce said mixture into the first chamber,    a substantial plurality of particles in said first chamber and in contact with said mixture, said particles comprising a material which attracts said first liquid and does not attract said second liquid, whereby said first liquid is separated from the second liquid and congregates on the plurality of said particles,    said particles being retained in the first chamber by said screen wall, and separated second liquid passing from the first chamber into the second chamber via the screen wall,    outlet means at an upper portion of the first chamber for outward flow of said first liquid from the separator, and    means for draining separated second liquid from the second chamber.    
     
     
         2 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said inlet means for the liquid mixture comprises a one-way valve to admit the liquid mixture to a lower portion of the first chamber.  
     
     
         3 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said mixture comprises an oil-water mixture, said first liquid is oil and said second liquid is water.  
     
     
         4 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said particles are formed of one of (1) polystyrene, (2) polyethylene, (3) polypropylene, (4) polyamide.  
     
     
         5 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said second liquid is water and said first liquid is one of (1) kerosene, (2) gasoline, (3) mineral oil, (4) vegetable oil, (5) petroleum oil.  
     
     
         6 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said particles are formed of material having a wettability angle which is less than 90°.  
     
     
         7 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second chambers are generally concentric and said second chamber is disposed radially outwardly of the first chamber.  
     
     
         8 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said screen wall retains said particles in the first chamber and passes separated second liquid from the first chamber into the second chamber.  
     
     
         9 . A separator according to  claim 1 , and further comprising an outlet from an upper portion of the first chamber for a separated first liquid.  
     
     
         10 . A separator according to  claim 1 , and further including a screen at an upper portion of a first chamber to retain said particles and pass separated first liquid from the separator.  
     
     
         11 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of particles comprises a vast number of particles.  
     
     
         12 . A separator according to  claim 9 , and further comprising means to apply a partial vacuum at said outlet to improve outflow of separated liquid from the first chamber.  
     
     
         13 . A separator according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a wall disposed about a lower portion of the first chamber to separate said liquid mixture in the first chamber from second liquid in a lower portion of the second chamber.  
     
     
         14 . A separator according to  claim 9 , and further comprising a wall extending about an upper portion of the first chamber to retain separated first liquid for passage through said outlet.  
     
     
         15 . A separator according to  claim 14 , wherein said wall has an upper edge portion spaced a short distance from an upper wall of the separator for outward flow of any separated first liquid adjacent to upper wall of the separator.  
     
     
         16 . A liquid mixture separator comprising: 
 a first chamber for containing a mixture of an oil and water,    a second chamber generally concentric with and disposed radially outwardly of said first chamber and in liquid communication therewith via a screen wall between the first and second chambers,    means to introduce said mixture into the first chamber,    a substantial plurality of particles in said first chamber and in contact with said mixture, said particles comprising a material which attracts said oil and does not attract said water,    said particles comprising at least one of (1) polystyrene, (2) polyethylene, (3) polypropylene, (4) polyamide,    said particles being retained in the first chamber by said polyamide screen wall, and separated water passing from the first chamber into the second chamber via the screen wall,    outlet means at an upper portion of the first chamber for outward flow of said oil from the separator, and    means for draining separated water from the second chamber.    
     
     
         17 . A separator according to  claim 16 , wherein said screen wall retains said particles in the first chamber and passes separated water from the first chamber into the second chamber.  
     
     
         18 . A separator according to  claim 16 , and further comprising an outlet from an upper portion of the first chamber for a separated oil.  
     
     
         19 . A separator according to  claim 16 , and further including a screen at an upper portion of a first chamber to retain said particles and pass separated oil from the separator.  
     
     
         20 . a separator according to  claim 18 , and further comprising means to apply a partial vacuum at said outlet to improve outflow of separated oil from the first chamber.  
     
     
         21 . A separator according to  claim 16 , and further comprising a wall disposed about a lower portion of the first chamber to separate said oil in the first chamber from water in a lower portion of the second chamber.  
     
     
         22 . A separator according to  claim 18 , and further comprising a wall extending about an upper portion of the first chamber to retain separated oil for passage through said outlet.  
     
     
         23 . A continuous liquid mixture separator comprising: 
 a first chamber for containing a mixture of a petroleum oil and water,    a second chamber generally concentric with and disposed radially outwardly of said first chamber and in liquid communication therewith via a screen wall between the first and second chambers,    means to introduce said mixture into the first chamber,    a substantial plurality of particles in said first chamber and in contact with said mixture, said particles comprising a material which attracts said petroleum oil and does not attract said water,    said particles comprising at least one of (1) polystyrene, (2) polyethylene,    whereby said petroleum oil is separated from the water and congregates on said plurality of particles,    said particles being retained in the first chamber by said screen wall, and separated water passing from the first chamber into the second chamber via the screen wall,    outlet means at an upper portion of the first chamber for outward flow of said petroleum oil from the separator, and    means for draining separated water from the second chamber.    
     
     
         24 . A separator according to  claim 23 , wherein said particles are formed of one of (1) polypropylene, (2) polyamide.  
     
     
         25 . A separator according to  claim 23 , wherein said screen wall retains said particles in the first chamber and passes separated water from the first chamber into the second chamber.  
     
     
         26 . A separator according to  claim 23 , and further comprising an outlet from an upper portion of the first chamber for a separated petroleum oil.  
     
     
         27 . A separator according to  claim 23 , and further including a screen at an upper portion of a first chamber to retain said particles and pass separated petroleum oil from the separator.  
     
     
         28 . A separator according to  claim 26 , and further comprising means to apply a partial vacuum at said outlet to improve outflow of separated petroleum oil from the first chamber.  
     
     
         29 . A separator according to  claim 23 , and further comprising a wall disposed about a lower portion of the first chamber to separate said petroleum oil in the first chamber from water in a lower portion of the second chamber.  
     
     
         30 . A separator according to  claim 26 , and further comprising a wall extending about an upper portion of the first chamber to retain separated petroleum oil for passage through said outlet.